Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-02-18
FRIDAY MORNING. FEB. IS, 1887.
A GIANT ORGANIZING ITSELF

tional and State legislation has become
especially apparent in the last five
wears. Here in Virginia, where the far
nuinuep too much engaged in party
napch to legislation direct
nterest, the change
Mariners AS
81 attendance on the
kfmers' National Congress
sEon. and there have hesn
BUS u0hrr Instances of less organized
racter, showing rhhsssss.ssssss farmer in
Ids to take better care So rself in the
than he 8ae il tbeSS|sst.
armer e assembly met at Rich
week and adopted an Agricul-
to be submitted to the next leg
re which contains reasonable, prac-
Die. and most sensible provisions. The
Enlistment of an Agricultural Depart
lent for the State in which $50, 900 year
hould be wisely spent for the advance
bent of agriculture, would be, if properly
damaged, one of the best investments Vlr-
mia ever made. 1t would be one from
hich millions would accrue to the State
time, and there are pressing reasons
by this step should be taken as early as
acticable. The signs Of the times very
Eongly indicate that the railroad corpo-
lions have come to the conclusion that
18th Nation against them, and with a
resident who has indicated his determi-
tion to carry out the Will of that Ma
tion ia the enforcement of the Inter-States
Commerce bill. it is no use to keep up the
fight any longer, and they will carry out
that bill both In its spirit and letter. This
will produce revolution in the value of
lands in the Atlantic States and Virginia
among them. The moment the West
finds that it cannot undersell the grain
of the Atlantic States within their own
borders through cheap and almost nom-
inal transportation rates, then the reac-
tion of emigration takes place. The
Western man knows that on the coast he
is nearer the beehive of the world than
he is at home. and he will commence look
ing for farm lands near the Atlantic. At
the South he can find them, and in Vlr-
ginia and North Carolina he can not only
ind them but the climate that suits him
with them. Virginia is essentially aaeas
country, fve-eighths of it's lands are new.
There are counties in Virginia that one
might buy and fence in for SIS an acre, in
Guiding the buildings on the farms, and
yet the land is not worn out. for as mat
ter of fact it has never been more than
surface scratched. This reflex tide of i'm
migration to the Eastern States will fol-
low the operation of the Interstate bill.
and with it will not only come farmers
looking for land. but manufacturers look
ing for places to put up plants. The day
having passed when the MIN neapolis MIL
Ter could grind western wheat and put it
down in Richmond at less than Rich
mond miller could offer Virginia -four,
then that miller had better be in Richmond
thar ~. eapolis and he will go there
and other ma otnrers will follow hir..
There is to be breaki1. up Of the hard
tramped, fallow ground made by the trans
portation corporations by years of an IN
just policy, aud $50. 900 is little enough for
Virginia to spend to be ready to meet the
break up. "A wise and very long-headed
observer of affairs In Virginia, gives it as
his opinion that the result of the breaking
up will be an increase of half in the value
of Virginia lands in the next five yea1s.
The apportlonment for Experimental Sta
lions and for Farmers Institutes inserted
in the Assembly's bill are wise provisions.
The more life and progress State shows,
the more immigration is attracted to it,
and when the influx of the Western tide
comes, the men who are looking for Vir-
ginia lands are the men who will be at
enough ahead to have experimental farm
ing stations and where Farmers Institu-
tes exist.
We agree with the practical part of the
farmers Assembly's declarations much
more heartily than we do with one or two
of the theories inserted in its platform.
In this respect we share the opinion of the
old jackson Democrat who, speaking of
political conventions, after profanely as
gning the platform to certain different
mate, said; lone good candidate was
orth twenty platforms" The practical
m of the Agricultural bill adopted
sssembly fully redeems some of the
N its platform which we think are
5. s.vner practical nor wise. and which we
not for a moment think the farmers3of
sinia believe are either. The sectipn
WI favors the importation OF foreign
goods for the sake Of cheapness is not
really the opinion Of the farmers of Vir-
slinia, who are at this moment rejoicing
aver railroad bill which prevents the
heap "foreign" wheat of Minnesota
ON competing with that of Virginia.
he Virginia consumer of -four has had
1ie advantage of getting it anywhere
Fom two to three dollars less from the
inneapolis mills and had it landed in
Virginia at fifty cents barrel. That was
Fee trade" and its result. The Virginia
mer adopted petition to congress to
lnge the railroad law so as to beat
d0wn this ruinous competition and there
Iby protect him from it. That is protec-
&ticsrSis I'D the whole issue of protection by
l. National Goyernftsnt in nutshell,
I'd the irginia farmer believes in it
Eatform or no Norm. Nor can the
rnoars of Virginia aa,rcalla- opposed to
aey will improve Ihe his
cry of the Nori0 railroad
,ia until the lit
ve attained